QT 11/24/2023 Mark 6:35-44, We need to give up being our own gods

Mark 6:35–44 (RSV) —

35 And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a lonely place, and the hour is now late; 36 send them away, to go into the country and villages round about and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?” 38 And he said to them, “How many loaves have you? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39 Then he commanded them all to sit down by companies upon the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. 41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples to set before the people; and he divided the two fish among them all. 42 And they all ate and were satisfied. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44 And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.

 

NOTE: This is an amazing miracle that Jesus accomplished at least two times. He created food out of nothing. What started out as five loaves and two fish, became 12 baskets of leftovers. The miracle may have been lost on the disciples, but it was not on the people. Later they would chase him around looking for more free meals. God created the earth out of nothing. God can create food out of nothing. In the days after the tribulation, until life settles down, we may be the distributors of God's food created out of nothing.

 

The obvious reaction of the unbelieving world is that the event did not happen. But at what point, with four gospels, and the impact in the first century do you realize that a "lie" would not have lasted. You can't start a movement with lies when there are so many eyewitnesses to the truth. Yes, many movements start today, but not with miracles and certainly not with dozens and dozens of different types of miracles. It has never happened before or after. None of the cults or religions can point to this level of miracles. Some have one miracle observed by few or none, but no movement has this many miracles observed by so many people.

 

We have to realize that this all happened, so what am I going to do with it?

 

PONDER:

1. Have I truly considered the impact of all the miracles of Jesus' upon his statements?

 

PRAYER: Lord, there is only one response to the historical record. It requires submission and repentance. You are who you claimed to be, the son of God whose mission was to save mankind by death on a cross. We must put our faith in you alone and give up on being our own god. We do not own our lives. They are yours and are meant to serve you.